A/HRC/19/51 political figures to mediate between the groups had failed. Confrontations were also witnessed in Jawf and Hajja governorates, and led to a general increase in the use of sectarian rhetoric across the area amounting to incitement to war. The entire governorate of Saada and neighbouring governorates of Hajja and Jawf were reportedly under the control of Houthi militia, with negative consequences for the enrolment of girls in schools, freedom of expression and access for humanitarian agencies. 17. At the end of December, employees and students of a number of public institutions, ministries and public corporations, as well as certain military units throughout the country (including the national airline carrier, banks and education facilities) started to forcibly evict their heads from their positions on the basis of allegations of corruption. Dozens of managers and officials were subjected to public humiliation or physical violence, and most of them no longer have access to their places of employment. The new Government called for an end to this practice, but was unable to stop it or to provide protection to those affected, whose due process rights were ignored. B. International legal framework 18. Yemen is party to eight of the nine core international human rights treaties.1 In reviewing the State’s implementation of its treaty obligations, the human rights treaty bodies have noted that violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights persist on a considerable scale. The treaty bodies have also expressed deep concern at the limited progress made in implementing their observations and recommendations, as well as a lack of cooperation with the treaty bodies themselves.2 IV. Human rights situation 19. A wide range of human rights violations was documented across the country during the period under review. The main allegations related to the continuous use of lethal and disproportionate force against mostly peaceful protesters by Government forces and affiliated groups, and the prevailing impunity for most perpetrators of such violations. Moreover, clashes involving different configurations of Government and anti-Government forces and armed tribesmen continued with a general disregard for civilian life. The members of the mission were unable to obtain precise figures concerning the number of people killed or injured. The figures received from various sources varied considerably and did not always make a distinction between the killings and/or injury of unarmed protesters and other civilians from fighters from all armed groups and forces. 20. Information was received during the mission from Government sources and some civil society organizations according to which a significant number of Government security personnel were killed during confrontations with armed opposition groups in Ta’izz. Many members of the armed forces, paramilitary and police units have lost their lives or been severely injured in recent months. Information was also received concerning the killing of 1 2 Yemen is not party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The treaty bodies often refer to “widespread” and “continuing” violations. The Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights noted that the State’s report was “not complete in its coverage of all the rights laid down in the Covenant” and that “the State's replies to the list of issues did not provide a systematic response” (E/C.12/YEM/CO/2). The Committee against Torture noted with concern that “the conclusions and recommendations it addressed to Yemen in 2003 have not been sufficiently taken into consideration” (CAT/C/YEM/CO/2). 7